In the capital, a diverse mix of people filed into Cathays Park’s memorial garden before encircling the wreath-shaped Cenotaph.

Gurkhas wearing their distinctive Terai hats stood next to a group of ex-army bikers clad in leather jackets emblazoned with “Lest We Forget”, while young cadets joined Second World War veterans like Oliver Alindsay in a five minute silence.

Mr Alindsay was enlisted into the Merchant Navy at the age of 16. Less than 12 months later, he cheated death while on the SS Botavon ship.

It was sunk by the Luftwaffe while en-route to Murmansk – with the young teenage officer and fellow survivors picked up hours later by the Royal Navy vessel Cape Palliser.

However, his ordeal was far from over when his rescue vessel was attacked by dive bombers. When dry land finally greeted him, he braved a long walk through heavy snow in temperatures of minus 20C to a Russian Army camp to await transport back home.

By the time he had turned 19, Mr Alindsay had served in numerous tours of North Africa and Japan.

Proudly wearing large red poppy above his medals, the 87-year-old said: “Humanity must learn from the mistakes of the past.

“Those who died in the name of freedom should always be remembered – whether they perished in World War II or more recent conflicts.

“Today, I’ve just quietly reflected on the events of the past.

“You try not to think about it too much, but it is still important to remember.”

A few feet away from Mr Alindsay were young cadets from the army, navy and RAF.

Mark Evans, 20, of Thornhill, Cardiff who attended the ceremony in the Welsh capital, described Mr Alindsay’s story as remarkable.

“I couldn’t imagine what it must have felt like to have left home at 16 and almost die while thousands of miles on the other side of the world,” he added.

Today's service in Cardiff was led by the Rev Stewart Lisk - honorary chaplain to Cardiff Council.

He led the service just after 11am, asking those present to commit to “work for reconciliation between the nations”, so all may live in “freedom, justice and peace”.

And after the playing of The Last Post, the silence was broken by the sound of two shots from a large military cannon.

Wreaths were laid by a cross section of Welsh society, including First Minister Mr Jones, leaders of opposition parties and military veterans, as well as ordinary members of the public.

Before rousing renditions of the Welsh and British national anthems, a diverse mix of ethnicities – including Jewish, Muslim, Sikh and Christian leaders – took to the stage in a refrain of “May God Give Peace”.

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